brevity is the soul of wit

proverb

Conciseness of expression is an essential characteristic of astute, perceptive, or witty remarks.

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Meanings

proverb
  1. Conciseness of expression is an essential characteristic of astute, perceptive, or witty remarks.

    Brevity is the Soul of Wit. Talking to your infant is good, but uttering individual words might be better.

    2001 March 5, Daniel S. Levy, “In Brief”, in Time
    3 more examples

    The same complaint must be made against Mr. Matthew's excellent survey of the theory of evolution, as against Dr. Erasmus Darwin's original exposition of the same theory, namely, that it is too short. It may be very true that brevity is the soul of wit, but the leaders of science will generally succeed in burking new-born wit, unless the brevity of its soul is found compatible with a body of some bulk.

    1879, Samuel Butler, chapter 18, in Evolution, Old & New

    "[I]f people would only settle their affairs in that way, a good part of the occupation of lawyers would be gone. Brevity is the soul of wit; and the fear of simplicity is the beginning of litigation."

    1912, R. Austin Freeman, chapter 5, in The Mystery of 31 New Inn

    Y'see, a guy named William Shakesman once said, "Brevity is the soul of wit." This just means don't waste my time.

    2012 April 9, Mike Stoslaka, Star Wars: the Phantom Menace Review

Origin

Coined by William Shakespeare in 1602 in "Hamlet," act 2, scene 2: : Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit, : And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, : I will be brief: your noble son is mad...

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic خَيْرُ الكَلَامِ مَا قَلَّ وَدَلَّ
  • خَيْرُ الكَلَامِ مَا قَلَّ وَدَلَّ (ḵayru l-kalāmi mā qalla wadalla)conciseness is essential to witty remarks
Chinese Mandarin 言以簡為貴 /言以简为贵, 言貴簡潔 /言贵简洁
  • 言以簡為貴 /言以简为贵 (yán yǐ jiǎn wéi guì)conciseness is essential to witty remarks
  • 言貴簡潔 /言贵简洁 (yánguìjiǎnjié)conciseness is essential to witty remarks
Danish korthed er videns sjæl
  • korthed er videns sjælconciseness is essential to witty remarks
Finnish lyhyestä virsi kaunis
  • lyhyestä virsi kaunisconciseness is essential to witty remarks
French la brièveté est l’âme de l’esprit
  • la brièveté est l’âme de l’espritconciseness is essential to witty remarks
German in der Kürze liegt die Würze
  • in der Kürze liegt die Würzeconciseness is essential to witty remarks
Hindi संक्षिप्तता बुद्धि की आत्मा है
  • संक्षिप्तता बुद्धि की आत्मा है (saṅkṣiptatā buddhi kī ātmā hai)conciseness is essential to witty remarks
Spanish la brevidad es el alma del talento
  • la brevidad es el alma del talentoconciseness is essential to witty remarks
Cite this entry
APA

brevity is the soul of wit. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/brevity%20is%20the%20soul%20of%20wit

MLA

“brevity is the soul of wit.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/brevity%20is%20the%20soul%20of%20wit. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “brevity is the soul of wit,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/brevity%20is%20the%20soul%20of%20wit.

Source: brevity is the soul of wit on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.